Vava'u

Been a while since I've made an email I don't even remember the last time I have. Crazy news though is I've been transferred from my beautiful island of Eua. It happened the same exact way that I was transferred from Ha'asini, President calls and says "a boat leaves in 30 minutes. Jump on." I was last comped with Stan Raas who was amazing he got a guitar too and we jammed alot and even tho I was with him for only 2 weeks it was probably some of the best weeks I've had on this mission. Some of you are probably wondering if I’m still alive. Yeah I am and it's good that I leave Eua because to be honest I think I was starting to gain weight. I served faithfully in Eua for around 5 months total, serving in Ha'atu'a, Pangai, and Ohonua. Each place I served I enjoyed greatly. When Prez told me I was getting transferred I was kinda hoping like some plane or random volcano would come blow up the wharf so I didn't have to leave Eua. Well, the wharf is still alive and working well and I'm now in a new place. I was picked up by the mission boat named, "Molonai" and the boat is super fast and It was nice to finally go on the mission owned boat. Not many people can say they had to travel by boat for their missions. I didn't have any time to say goodbye to my kaingalotu which sucked really bad because they took super good care of me in the many things I needed. Saying bye to my man Raas was hard as well because like I said even though we were together for only 2 weeks we came to become brothers. He stood and watched at the wharf until I couldn't see the wharf well anymore. Anyways though, we were greeted by president at the wharf which was nice because I hadn't seen president in a while. But we got some food to eat and waited at the mission office. There was a new intake coming in this day so everyone was pretty busy and I was kinda just there. I reminisced on the beautiful memories I made while in Eua. I felt like I knew the island like the back of my hand. I stayed at the APs house until Elder Darrington picked me up to go to my new destination. I took a plane ride which was cool cuz the boat ride is hekka long and I'm not trying to take that I just wanna hurry up and be there. So the new area I got was Leimatu'a Vava'u. Everyone always told me Vava'u was, "paradise" or, the "promised land." To be real honest, I thought Eua was paradise. But I needed to move on to my new area. I was picked up by the ZLs which one of them is an old friend Eld. Heimuli (04- A). So even though I was down about leaving Eua I was able to see an old friend.

Vava'u is nice. They have some nice views and I've already met with all my kaingalotu in the 1st and 2nd ward. We also cover Feletoa, which is about a 30 minute walk away. We have a huge area and I’m also the District Leader which I'm not too happy about but if I'm asked to do something I'll do it. My district is pretty small, only 6 of us total which is nice. My hoa is Elder Faumui from West Valley Utah. He's hilarious and cracks me up everyday. While being here I was looking around my house and saw the lisi fafanga (meal calendar) and realized it said, "Heilala Kauvaka," which is my aunt who I was able to meet while I was at my uncle’s putu in Vaotu'u. Obviously, I quickly found her the next day which was nice.

 I was also able to receive  approval from my president to have dinner with my family on my dad's side. They found me on a p-day and we had planned to have a dinner together for Wednesday. We ate puaka tunu and Ota ika which, for some of y’all who don't know— I hated fish before the mission. But Ota ika is now one of my favorite dishes. Heilala said that we would be eating puaka on her day of fafanga too so now I'm just looking forward to that. 

I will miss Eua deeply but I'm glad I'm able to move on and come to this new island that I haven't been to yet. New area means new people, new friends, and new laumalies. The work still stays the same even though we move on to different places. I was able to also meet Elder and Sister Nau, who are part of my district and are the grandparents of one of my good friends, Venoni Wolfgramm and Kingston Wolfgramm back in Texas. Vava'u is a new place for new challenges so we'll see if I survive this one.  Till next time yall. 

With my Dad's first cousins, Hola and Pipiena

My new companion Elder Faumui from West Valley, Utah

The boat Molonai in the back.  Standing next to President Kaufusi

My mom's first cousin, Heilala Kauvaka.  I went to visit her and she was so surprised to see me, not knowing I had transferred to Vava'u.  Last time I saw her was in Tongatapu at my mom's Uncle Salesi's funeral. 

Church in Heilala's ward

Heilala and two of her daughters.  She also has a son and another daughter that are currently serving missions of their own.

Me and my second cousin, Heilala's daughter